Roger Coulter

VARNER – Roger Coulter, Arkansas’ longest serving death row inmate, died Friday night ahead of any plans to execute him at the Varner Unit of the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Coulter, 57, had been sentenced to death in 1989 for the rape and murder of five year old Natasha Phelps. Authorities said at the time that he was living with her mother in Ashley County.

Officials say Coulter was found by a correctional officer unresponsive in his cell around 6:30 PM. He was pronounced dead just after 7:00PM.

There was no immediate word on a cause of death.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here